Favorite West Coast Swing and Salsa songs from DJ Vic. These little blue links take you to iMixes on iTunes, where you can buy the songs listed. You have to have iTunes installed on your computer to follow the links. Below are some of my favorites (not the same as the iMixes) for Swing and Salsa.

Swing iMix
Bachata iMix
Salsa iMix

10 Technique Points for Women

1.Move Down the Slot
As soon as he starts your momentum, cruise down the slot!
You move from your center from counts 1 through 4, then stop to anchor on 5&6. (On an 8 count pattern, move through 6, then anchor 7&8.) Each step wants to be moving down the slot, including 3 & 4. Cross in front on &.

2.Anchor
Wait at the end of the slot till he brings you forward.
Keep left foot back (loose third foot position), both legs straight but soft. On 6, settle back slightly so your weight moves to the front part of the heel of the left foot. Keep about 20%-30% of your weight on your right foot as well. Stretch through 6 so he can feel a build in tension/stretch. See Stretch below. Square your shoulders to your partner.

3.Flashlighting
Keep your center toward your partner as you walk by – creates a contra-body motion that gives sexy WCS style and most importantly, maintains connection. Contra-body keeps your shoulders toward him and your hips/feet going down the slot through 3-& so you cross in front on &.

4.Compression
On a sugar push, move your center down the slot, let him catch your energy and send you back. Don’t stop your own momentum. You compress 3-&, he sends you backwards on 4. Your shoulders have some give and the compression comes from your center moving, rather than your arms being tight.

5. Hand Connection
Maintain tension primarily in the 3rd and 4th fingers, bent at the knuckles joining your hand (rather than claws at the tips). The others stay loose and your thumb never touches your partner. Wrist is relaxed (slightly down), forearm and bicep are completely relaxed. If your partner drops your hand, your arm should freely fall to your side.

If he connects with something other than your fingers, find connection…with your back, tricep, hip, wrist…whatever he leads with, give enough tension that he knows you’re there but not so much that you’re pulling him somewhere he’s not leading.

6.Frame
Your shoulder connects when he asks for a change in direction. He moves your hand, and you connect the request through your shoulder so your whole body turns or preps or swivels or whatever he’s asking. In other words, your center generally follows your hand.

7.Movement
Move from your center (sternum). Once he starts momentum, move on your own power. Since it’s your job to get to the end of the slot, he only starts you moving on 1, then lets you finish. Don’t use him to help you get down the slot after 1. Important: Don’t pull on his arm! Drive from your center, keeping your feet under you. Move center first, not feet. Your momentum should feel flowy and free, like skating, rather than emphasizing each step.

8.Stepping
Moving forward: Keep the ball of your foot connected lightly to the floor, and as you move your center slide your ball forward and at the last moment, release your toe and step lightly heel toe. Keep your quads engaged as if to walk quietly. No clunking! Small steps, but move with intention. Your head wants to stay level. No bouncing!

9.Stretch
Most important aspect of the dance!! On the anchor, roll through each foot, with a weight transfer on all 3 steps (5 & 6). On 6, move your lower center (lower back) backwards. Not shoulders or bum. Your shoulder releases slightly so you don’t pull your partner backwards with you. Keep movement at all times, stretching back like a rubber band through 6, then transferring the movement up to your upper center (sternum) as you move into 1 when he initiates your movement forward. Push through your left foot and your left bum cheek as you drive into 1. Don’t lean back! Keep your center over the balls of your feet.

10. Turns
Most turns are traveling turns. He starts your momentum down the slot, then asks you to turn – keep each step moving down the slot through 4 (or 6 of an 8 count pattern). Take small steps so your center moves first and your feet stay under you. When he asks for an increase in tension in your arm, respond, but as soon as he initiates the turn, soften your shoulder and arm so you’re turning on your own balanced. You’re responsible for your own balance…don’t make him hold you up!

10 Technique Points for Men

1.Body Lead
Lead by moving your center before anything else. Keep your arm relaxed. Step back on 1, not to the side to take her with you rather than pulling her with your arm. Keep your arm quiet when you’re not prepping or leading something so you’re not “babbling” at her. She’ll learn to ignore babbling.

2.One-Count Lead
Once you start her momentum down the slot, your job is done. Let her move herself and fill the space down the slot. Stay connected through your fingers, but let your forearm and bicep stay very relaxed. She stops herself on 4 and reestablishes connection on the anchor.

3.Playing Catch
Your entire job is about moving, catching and redirecting her momentum. You’re playing catch with her center. Feel her stretch at the end of the slot, and when she’s ready, redirect her. No need to push or pull – just redirect.

4.Turns
Invite her to turn. You start her direction with a clear lead, then follow her hand to complete the turn. She finishes, not you. Don’t pull her hand down at the end of a turn.

5.Changing Direction
Move your center first, then your feet. If moving backwards, move lower center (lower back) first, then your feet. If moving forward, move upper center (sternum) first, then feet. From the anchor into 1, start your center moving before 1, letting your shoulder release slightly so the rubber band stretch increases before the lead actually happens.

6.Anchor
Keep right foot back on the anchor. Roll through each foot so on 6 your center moves backward as you roll through your right foot, and continues moving back into 1. Never stop your movement. Square your shoulders to your partner through 5&6.

7.Rolling Count
Think “and-a-1-and-a-2” to keep your body moving, rather than thinking a straight count “1-2-3”. Purely psychological, but very useful. There should never be a complete stop in momentum.

8.The Slot
She owns the slot. Get out of it. If you want her to pass, give her enough space, but not too much. You don’t have to be able to drive a Mack truck between you and your partner…she just needs to get by without running into you or having to go around you.

9.Flashlighting
Keep your center toward your partner. On a side pass, keep your flashlight beam (coming out of your sternum) pointed at her so you’re essentially leading her with your center, rather than leading with your arm.

10. Freedom
This is for her, not you. Remember you’re dancing with a woman! You get to guide her and invite her and you never want your lead to feel controlling. Let her dance and she’ll make you look good!

Some additional fun stuff in West Coast Swing…

Play :: Different from other dances, the follow gets to add to the conversation. Since the frame is softer than ballroom or Latin dances, the conversation is more like whispering than yelling. She can hear what he’s “saying” because she’s relaxed, but he can also hear her “say” something back because he’s relaxed as well. She has to add something relevant, based on the music and she lets him know what she’s doing by her connection. It’s like interrupting a conversation – allowed as long as it’s done appropriately.

Musicality :: Since you’re not tied to dancing on the 1 (because there are 6 count and 8 count patterns), you have the freedom to stop and play when the music asks for it. Learn how music is written: 8 counts are usually grouped in 4 sets to make 32 in hip hop – often 6 sets of 8 in blues to make 48. In good WCS music there will be noticeable instruments and builds and breaks in the music – which are predictable by learning phrasing. You can dance to 3 parts of the music; the underlying beat, the instruments or the vocals. Generally you switch between all 3 once you’re comfortable with the technique and you can dance to the music without messing up your partner.

Syncopation :: Stepping in between the beats rather than on the beats. As long as your lead or follow feels right to your partner, you can mess with your feet and change the rhythm. Connection is the most important, so don’t let your lead/follow suffer when you start to play. A woman often holds back on 1, increasing the rubber band stretch, then steps “& 2” to catch up, with a powerful slingshot feeling moving down the slot with the momentum he gives her.

 

Differences Between Ballroom WCS and Social WCS

1.Anchor – No coaster step! An Anchor step keeps the woman back on 6 so he leads her forward on 1, rather than the woman moving toward him on 6, and therefore eliminating the need for a lead. If he can’t lead her down the slot on 1, he might as well go get a drink!

2. Movement - Once he initiates her momentum down the slot, her job is to keep going. It's basically a 1-count lead, and she's inertia. NOw he doesn't have to pull her all the way down the slot like Fido on a leash.

3.Compression – Since she moves down the slot unless he stops her, she keeps moving her center forward in a sugar push until he catches her energy and redirects her.

4.Flashlighting – Keep your center toward your partner. Don’t walk by him till 4, then flip around on 5. Yuck.

5.Frame – Soft and squishy like thick molasses! No tight arms.

6.Body lead – Lead from your center, not with your bulging biceps.

7.Play – Dance to the music! Keep your technique, but forget your patterns and learn how to move the woman. If you can’t dance to the music, then let her and try to keep up. Everyone will be happier.

8.Hand Connection – Mostly with your 3rd and 4th fingers. The rest of your fingers stay relaxed and soft. Your arm muscles are relaxed so you can feel your partner's center moving away from the post rather than tight arms.